Hinduism in Asia

[1][2] About 99.2% of the world's Hindus live in Asia, with India having 94% of the global Hindu population.

[citation needed] Other Asian nations with a notable Hindu population include Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.

[3][4][5][6] The roots of Hinduism started and emerged in the Indus River at the Indus Valley civilisation, nearly 3,000 BCE and spread through the Indian subcontinent,[7] though the history of Hinduism overlaps or coincides with the development of religion in the Indian subcontinent since the Iron Age, with some of its traditions tracing back to prehistoric religions such as those of the Bronze Age Indus Valley civilization.

[8] Hinduism spread in the South and Southeast Asia by the Hindu rulers and dynasties and the reign of Gupta Empire or Gupta era was considered as the Golden period for Hinduism and the religion also spread to Central Asia and Afghanistan through the Silk route.

[9][10][11] There were also many Hindu colonies in the middle-east Asia with significance of trade with the parts of the world.

Hinduism expansion in Asia, from its heartland in Indian Subcontinent, to the rest of Asia, especially Southeast Asia, started circa 1st century marked with the establishment of early Hindu settlements and polities in Southeast Asia.